Readings for Monday of Holy Week[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 42:1-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 42:1-7
This is the first of the four “Servant of the Lord” oracles from Isaiah. Speaking as the mouth of God, the prophet speaks of a renewal of Israel in his time. The servant comes, not as a violent zealot but with the quiet power of God (“A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench”). We see the deeper meaning as his words describe the coming of the Christ who brings justice on the earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R The Lord is my light and my salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
This section of the psalm is a profession of faith in the salvation that comes only from the Lord God. This selection is frequently used in Christian Funerals because of the hope embodied in it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 12:1-11
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 12:1-11
In this scene from St. John’s Gospel we are painted a picture of Judas not found in other accounts. John shows him as a greedy and dishonest person. We suspect this understanding of Judas came after his ultimate act of betrayal. At the time it would have seemed like a reasonable question. (In St. Mark’s Gospel this event takes place two days before the Passover Feast as opposed to the six mentioned here. See Mark 14: 1-5.)
Jesus again tells the disciples that the time for his trial is at hand as he tells them; “You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” The sense of finality is growing as we are also told of the plot to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus in an attempt to stamp out the Lord’s popularity among the people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
As we hear Judas’ exchange with Jesus in the house of Lazarus, we recognize something about the man. While history has painted him as the worst kind of traitor and betrayer, which he turned out to be, he may have been an idealist instead of the base betrayer depicted.
Let’s examine his motives. We believe he was the only one of the Twelve not from Galilee. His name “Iscariot” identifies him as being from Judah. When he speaks to Christ about the actions of Mary; “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" we get the sense that he has truly captured by the Lord’s mission. It is quite possible he was an idealist, having what he considered to be the only possible image of the necessary outcome of the mission of Christ.
It could also have been that, as the keeper of the finances of the disciples (“…held the money bag”) and this temptation had caused him to be overcome by greed as St. John says; calling him a thief who would “…steal the contributions”. The evangelist certainly colored him as completely flawed and undeserving of sympathy of any kind.
Yet we keep coming back to the point that he was called by Christ personally. He was one of the twelve who traveled with him and sat with him; being taught and loved.
It is said that “all sin is a mystery” and the more heinous the sin, the deeper the mystery. It is implicit in our vocabulary. Have we not all exclaimed “How could he/she have done that?” In the case of Judas, who committed the worst betrayal in history, incredulity is the only certain emotion we can feel about the outcome of his actions.
Yet it has also been speculated that Judas took the course he did, not to betray his friend, but to hasten the Lord’s assertion of his authority; to take up the scepter of the Royal Messiah who would place the Sanhedrin beneath his feet and cast out the Roman occupiers. He would have been the most shocked of all the twelve when his actions caused the death of one he loved.
In this case his zeal would have had consequences directly opposite to his intention. But all of the speculation in the world does not change the fact that after committing the momentous betrayal he then compounded his own damnation by taking his own life.
Only God knows what was in the heart of Judas. But we certainly know one thing; that when Jesus spoke from the Cross and said “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Judas Iscariot was included in that statement. And if we listen carefully, we will hear Jesus speaking in our heats, saying that even one who betrayed the greatest love anyone ever experienced should (must) be forgiven.
For all of us this message flows two ways. First we are called to forgive. If Jesus forgives the worst betrayal in history, how can we be unforgiving of the hurts we have suffered? They pale in comparison. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the message also means that we who have betrayed Christ’s example to a lesser extent through our own sins, are also forgiven. This is the great consolation of all Christians; that the Lord accepts our flawed nature and loves us none the less. The march toward the resurrection continues this Holy Week. Our gratitude to Christ expands.
Pax
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Isaiah 42:1-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 42:1-7
This is the first of the four “Servant of the Lord” oracles from Isaiah. Speaking as the mouth of God, the prophet speaks of a renewal of Israel in his time. The servant comes, not as a violent zealot but with the quiet power of God (“A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench”). We see the deeper meaning as his words describe the coming of the Christ who brings justice on the earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R The Lord is my light and my salvation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
This section of the psalm is a profession of faith in the salvation that comes only from the Lord God. This selection is frequently used in Christian Funerals because of the hope embodied in it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 12:1-11
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages
and given to the poor?"
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.
Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 12:1-11
In this scene from St. John’s Gospel we are painted a picture of Judas not found in other accounts. John shows him as a greedy and dishonest person. We suspect this understanding of Judas came after his ultimate act of betrayal. At the time it would have seemed like a reasonable question. (In St. Mark’s Gospel this event takes place two days before the Passover Feast as opposed to the six mentioned here. See Mark 14: 1-5.)
Jesus again tells the disciples that the time for his trial is at hand as he tells them; “You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” The sense of finality is growing as we are also told of the plot to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus in an attempt to stamp out the Lord’s popularity among the people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
As we hear Judas’ exchange with Jesus in the house of Lazarus, we recognize something about the man. While history has painted him as the worst kind of traitor and betrayer, which he turned out to be, he may have been an idealist instead of the base betrayer depicted.
Let’s examine his motives. We believe he was the only one of the Twelve not from Galilee. His name “Iscariot” identifies him as being from Judah. When he speaks to Christ about the actions of Mary; “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?" we get the sense that he has truly captured by the Lord’s mission. It is quite possible he was an idealist, having what he considered to be the only possible image of the necessary outcome of the mission of Christ.
It could also have been that, as the keeper of the finances of the disciples (“…held the money bag”) and this temptation had caused him to be overcome by greed as St. John says; calling him a thief who would “…steal the contributions”. The evangelist certainly colored him as completely flawed and undeserving of sympathy of any kind.
Yet we keep coming back to the point that he was called by Christ personally. He was one of the twelve who traveled with him and sat with him; being taught and loved.
It is said that “all sin is a mystery” and the more heinous the sin, the deeper the mystery. It is implicit in our vocabulary. Have we not all exclaimed “How could he/she have done that?” In the case of Judas, who committed the worst betrayal in history, incredulity is the only certain emotion we can feel about the outcome of his actions.
Yet it has also been speculated that Judas took the course he did, not to betray his friend, but to hasten the Lord’s assertion of his authority; to take up the scepter of the Royal Messiah who would place the Sanhedrin beneath his feet and cast out the Roman occupiers. He would have been the most shocked of all the twelve when his actions caused the death of one he loved.
In this case his zeal would have had consequences directly opposite to his intention. But all of the speculation in the world does not change the fact that after committing the momentous betrayal he then compounded his own damnation by taking his own life.
Only God knows what was in the heart of Judas. But we certainly know one thing; that when Jesus spoke from the Cross and said “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Judas Iscariot was included in that statement. And if we listen carefully, we will hear Jesus speaking in our heats, saying that even one who betrayed the greatest love anyone ever experienced should (must) be forgiven.
For all of us this message flows two ways. First we are called to forgive. If Jesus forgives the worst betrayal in history, how can we be unforgiving of the hurts we have suffered? They pale in comparison. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the message also means that we who have betrayed Christ’s example to a lesser extent through our own sins, are also forgiven. This is the great consolation of all Christians; that the Lord accepts our flawed nature and loves us none the less. The march toward the resurrection continues this Holy Week. Our gratitude to Christ expands.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Mary Magdalene’s Jar of Very Expensive Ointment” by James Tissot, 1886-96
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[2] The picture used is “Mary Magdalene’s Jar of Very Expensive Ointment” by James Tissot, 1886-96
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment